Biography

Sayeh Sirvani, director, puppeteer, and puppet maker, was born in 1991 in Iran. In 2009, she joined the Puppet Theatre department at the University of Fine Arts in Tehran. She continued her studies at the National School of Puppet Arts in Charleville-Mézières, where she graduated in 2019 (11th promotion).

From her first creation, L'ivresse des profondeurs, Sayeh affirmed her unique style. This project, supported by the National Centre for Puppetry Arts Tas de Sable - Ches Panses Vertes and produced by the World Puppetry Theatre Festival, marked the beginning of her artistic journey. She is currently working on La Perle, a new creation that explores the transformation of pain into courage and strength. This work will debut in November 2025.

Among her other works is Zal, an adaptation of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, inspired by the aesthetics of Persian miniatures. This performance offers an experience blending theatre and visual poetry, immersing the audience in Persian imagination.

In parallel, Sayeh collaborates with other companies as a puppet maker, outside eye, performer, or educator. Her educational projects, such as Macbeth or the Comedy of Witches and Elephants in the Dark, have led to over 500 hours of workshops in France.

Since January 2023, she has been an associate artist at Espace 110 - Centre Culturel d'Illzach - Nationally Conventioned Venue for Art and Creation.

About Cie 1001

Theatre, Puppetry, Storytelling

Founded in 2021 by Sayeh Sirvani, Cie 1001 aims to merge puppet theatre and the art of storytelling, drawing inspiration from the heritage of Iranian culture in both its content and visual concepts, to create a dialogue between traditional and contemporary art. The company’s performances, rooted in universal themes, invite audiences to journey between the past and the present, between heritage and innovation.

Cie 1001 stands out through the use of innovative techniques, such as puppet costumes. These hybrid, modular, and geometric objects transform puppeteers into characters or elements of the set, offering a rich visual experience and unprecedented freedom of metamorphosis. This visual and sensory theatre pushes the boundaries of the stage while exploring new forms of storytelling.

As an active participant in international artistic dialogue, Cie 1001 collaborates with artists from various nationalities, particularly in Iran, to strengthen cultural exchanges and open up new creative perspectives. In addition to performances, the company offers bilingual workshops, promoting transmission and sharing between audiences.

The company benefits from the support of Espace 110 – Centre Culturel d’Illzach and the emerging aid program of the Grand Est Region for the 2023-2025 period. Through its creations, Cie 1001 embodies a contemporary vision of theatre, where the art of storytelling and puppetry reinvents the stage to move and captivate audiences.